NHL Global Series lands to Tampere and Nokia Arena on November 4-5
Tampere hosts two National Hockey League regular season games on November 4-5, as reigning Stanley Cup champion Colorando Avalanche takes on Columbus Blue Jackets in Nokia Arena in two consecutive nights.
NHL Global Series makes its first-ever visit to Tampere, the co-host of IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship 2022 and 2023.
The sold-out games will offer a special occasion not only for local ice hockey fans, but also for Finns Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen representing Colorado Avalanche.
More than anything, Tampere-based fans are waiting for local superstar Patrik Laine to return to his home city in a Columbus Blue Jackets jersey. Tampere-born Laine has not played in Tampere since his departure to NHL after winning the Finnish Championship with Tappara in spring 2016. It will also be Laine's first appearance in Nokia Arena, which was opened in December 2021.
Columbus's Finnish goalkeeper Joonas Korpisalo has come back from injury and is waiting for a chance to reunite with local Ilves fans, after representing the club during two seasons between 2013-2015.
Interestingly, Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekäläinen was also born in Tampere and was named Tampere University Alumnus of the Year in 2018.
This fall, NHL international regular season games are played outside North America first time since 2019. Tampere and Prague are the only cities hosting regular season games, whereas Berlin and Bern hosted one pre-season game each.
